Authorities in Ganderbal set up vocational training centres to empower women

Ganderbal,
Tue, 30 Oct 2012ANI

Ganderbal (J-K), Oct.30 (ANI): Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal District have set up vocational training centres for girls with an aim to empower them and help them to become self-reliant.

An Industrial Training Institute (ITI) was set up in a village in Kangan block in Ganderbal district of the valley with an aim to provide technical training to the Kashmiri youth particularly women.

Indian women face a barrage of threats, say activists, despite impressive economic growth over the last two decades that has promoted gender equality and brought in better laws to protect women and girls.

A student, Aliya Jan, told the reporters that such centres would encourage girls to take up vocational courses and help them to become independent.

"I have come here to learn and become independent. These days we do not get government jobs and girls are sitting ideal after completing graduation and masters," said Jan.

Various Industrial Training Institute have been set in the far flung areas of valley under the Prime Minister Reconstruction Program (PMRP) with an aim to empower women.

Another student, Shaista Jan, appreciated the efforts of the state government, and said that it gave them an opportunity to learn sewing, dress making and cooking.

"Earlier, this area was considered to be a far-flung area and there was no centre. But now I would like to express my gratitude to the government for organizing this training session. This will benefit the women and the girls get an opportunity to learn a lot, including dress making," said Jan.

More than 150 girls are learning different short-term courses like dress making, consumer electronics, secretarial practice and computer operation.

The Superintendent at the Industrial Training Institute (ITI), Gulam Nabi Shah, said the authorities have ensured placements for the girls after the completion of the course.

"We decided to set up the training institute in rural area, as we want the girls to be technically trained so that they can become independent. We also monitor about their placements after they complete their course. If they do not get job then we make sure that they get a good placement by contacting other institutes. In future also we will ensure that they get good placement," said Shah.

Kashmir was once dubbed the Switzerland of the east. It was once a Mecca for climbers, skiers, honeymooners and filmmakers drawn to the state's soaring peaks, fruit orchards and timber houseboats bobbing on Dal Lake in Srinagar, the summer capital.

Planeloads of India's upwardly mobile middle classes have visited the picture postcard-perfect Kashmir Valley this summer, making it the busiest tourist season since the armed revolt began in 1989.

In wake of the decline in violence in India's Kashmir, one gets to see various development activities taking place in every sector. One such example is the opening of ATM in the border village and recently radio cabs were also introduced.

Recently, Minister of State for Telecom and IT Sachin Pilot launched the video conferencing facility with the help of a landline phone in the state. It was launched under the aegis of the state run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). (ANI)